Ball-racking counter



July 20, 1943. E. MISTACU 2,324,945

BALL-RACKING COUNTER Filed July 2, 1941 [01/8/7/0/ EVANGLE' MISTACU Bye 0 //7 e y Patented July 20, 1943 Ah RAo Q COUNTER Evangle Mistacu, St. Louis, Mo., assignor to Mina Mistacu, St. Louis, Mo.

Application uiy 2, 1941, SerialNo. 40,0,3b

3 Claims This invention relates to improvements in game apparatus, and more particularly to a device which will register and count the number of times that a'set of game balls have been placed in readiness formation for play.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide on a rack means generally used for grouping .a .set of playing balls ina predetermined geometric formation for subsequent play, a counter means which will enable the attendant or proprietor to ascertain just how much revenue he should receive from the players, and thus provide a check-up and detergent for any attempt to escape payment forthe use of the game-room.

Another'object of my invention is to so combine acounter mechanism with a game rack of the kind described, that the grouping of the balls themselves within said rack will actuate th o nter. ha that relea e of the re from the balls thus grouped, proper charge may be made for the game to be immediately played.

A further object of my invention is to so eon-1 struct a device of the kind described, that there will be no interference with the normal use of the rack or its durability.

Other objects of my invention are to provide a device of the kind described, which will be neat and attractive in appearance, unobstructive so as not to interfere with the proper and necessary use of the device, simple in operation and construction, light in weight, low in cost, and which will be otherwise satisfactory and efficient for use wherever deemed applicable.

To this end, my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, and the uses mentioned, as will be more clearly pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawing, wherein like reference characters represent like or corresponding parts throughout the views,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved rack about to be released from the playing balls properly grouped therein;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective view showing that portion of the rack in association with the counter mechanism;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional detail, showing the mounting of the counter and actuating means;

Figure 4 is an end view of the counter alone; and

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 4.

Referring more clearly to the drawing, wherein I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, there is indicated in Fig. l, a set ofaplaying balls for playing various sorts of ee si q x pl w re sna e r he like.

Play is generally done upen a table or other fiat playing. s face. b ihe mh h as th latter e he ore ah -rt of my ih em oh t s no l tr t d hereinh pu lle pl e Qrth l k a ee i ch rged. e a and an; at endant e hss the et 9 relay n hallr subs quent P a b the set Qt pla er o them up b a light .enclhsine trams r ra k. t l t r ein $9 hared sq s t r a n t et Q ha l in th rede e m ned eome ric formati n re? qwl ed'hvthe r l f the same, the bal s rem ning saxeimured release cf th a k r rqhh The number'of times that the balls are racked up indicates the number of games that have been played, and the charge made therefor, and it is in order to reduce any attempts to avoid pa m nt for racking; up. which might occur intentihll'ell through misunderstanding, I have arranged a means for positively counting the number of times that a set of playing balls have thus been racked.

Although there are other than triangular shapes of racks, I have chosen to illustrate the triangular shape herein, said rack being commonly of wood, having the bounding sides I, 2 and 3 to form a continuous enclosure within which the set of playing balls are arranged. The balls within the rack are then rolled as a unit with the rack to the point on the playing table as desired, whereupon the rack is lifted, leaving the balls grouped in the predetermined play design.

Adjacent one of the corners of the rack I have arranged a counting or registering mechanism, whereby each racking up of the balls will be registered, and the registering device may be checked against the reported number of games.

A counter 4 having visible registering wheels 5 is secured to the corner of the rack or frame, as on the exterior portion, by means of a fastening screw 6 or the like, this counter being of any suitable type and mechanism that will be sulficiently compact to fit into the space required, and will operate efliciently. An operating lever 1 extends from the operating shaft 8 of the counter and may have an enlarged contact face 9 for engagement with an actuating rod I2 as will be more clearly hereinafter described.

A casing or closure H may be positioned over the counter, as shown, and if desired, may be provided with a Sight opening Is to enable reading of the counter.

Each time that the lever I is moved in one direction and released, the register will be actuated one unit. Any suitable means may be used to perform this operation of the counter, as for example, the means shown.

A plunger or red I2 is positioned so as to be movable into the path of the lever I, to thereby engage the contact face 8 of the latter and actuate the register in the usual manner, this plunger extending slidably through the corner of the rack.

Although the lever I is provided with spring means (not shown) within the counter, to return the lever to initial position after each positive movement thereof, I have provided addi-.

within the -'rack, thus provided with the counter and operating-means, the final ball placed therein, will of itself, or by transmitting movement to another ball, pressthe' disk with plunger in a movement outwardly of the rack, this movement being transmittedin turn to-the counter lever.

Removal of the rack now will permit thecounter to register this racking up operation on the counter dial, and the rack is then With the counter lever and plunger parts as shown in their full-line position in Fig, 3, the dotted-line position indicating the movement ofthe parts to their extreme position. 1 r

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious thatvarious immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, arrangement, combination and construction herein shown and described, or the uses mentioned, except as limited by the state of the art to which this invention appertains, and the claims hereunto appended.

What 'I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: i i. a

l. The combination with a polygonal game rack for positioning a set of playing balls in a predetermined geometric formation for play upon removal of the rack, of a counter on said rack at one of the corners thereof for registering the numberof times that said balls have been so arranged and removed from said rack, and means concealed within said rack at said corner and operably controlled solely by the placing of the balls Within the rack for actuating said counter.

2. The; combination with a game rack for positioning a set-of playing balls therevv'ithin in a predetermined geometric formation for subsequent play upon removal of said rack'therefrom, a counter mounted onisaidjrack'io'r registering the number of times that th'e rack has been used to set said balls in playing arrangement, a plunger'concealed within said rack, and a resiliently mounted disk for actuating said plunger and, operable solely by the final ball placed in said rack to complete said geometric formation to actuate said counter.

" 3. The combination with a polygonal game rack for positioning a set of playing balls in a predetermined formation upon said removal of the rack, of a counter arranged'at one of the corners of said polygon 'for countingeach removal of the rack, a plunger at said corner and operable by engagement with the ball adjacent V saidcornerto constitute the sole actuator of said counter, and a resilient cushion for resisting actuation of said plunger and arranged within said corner.

li t/ANGLE MISTACVU. 

